February 2009 Archives

A 26-year-old man has been charged with six offences in connection with running a passport factory in Wembley.

Muhammad Yasir Khan, of Charterhouse Avenue, Wembley, appeared at Brent Magistrates' Court last week and was remanded in custody.

The UK Border Agency's Joint Immigration and Crime Team visited an address in Wembley this month where they arrested Khan.

A multi-million pound community centre for young people and teenagers excluded from school has opened in Wembley.

The Poplar Grove Centre, which first opened as a youth centre in the 1960s, has been given a £2.4million facelift and was officially opened by the Mayor of Brent, Councillor Ralph Fox, who unveiled a plaque in the new gym.

Young people in Brent have worked with the council to develop an alternative educational programme at the centre.

Youngsters will be able to enjoy football, dance and tae kwon do sessions, a music studio, gym and a playing field. A youth club will also meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Elizabeth Adare, head of Brent Youth Service, said: "The Poplar Grove Centre is a wonderful example of how different council services can work together for the good of young people.

"Our aim was to provide first-class facilities that could be used seven days a week and I hope that the young people who come to use this centre will agree that the investment has been worthwhile."

A separate part of the building is also the new home for Brent's Key Stage 4 Pupil Referral Unit, which has moved from its previous base in Kingsbury.

The unit, which last month received an 'outstanding' report from education watchdog Ofsted for the second time in a row, teaches 36 pupils who have been permanently excluded from school.

Teachers and pupils alike are benefitting from the extra educational facilities in the building including a science lab, and specialist IT and arts spaces, which have enabled teachers to offer an even broader curriculum and extend the number of GCSE courses on offer.

Parishioners at a church in north Wembley are celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Earlier this month more than 300 people attended a special service led by the Bishop of Willesden.

Photos capturing the church's five-decade history were also displayed reviving memories among the congregation.

Reverend Fraser McDermott, vicar of St Cuthbert's, said: "It was a wonderful occasion celebrating the ongoing success and worship on the Sudbury Court Estate."

Cara Lovell, parishioner, was also at the service. She said: "Since it opened 50 years ago St Cuthbert's Church has been a pivotal part of the local community.

"Fun days, toddlers' groups, youth clubs and much more have been enjoyed by people across the Sudbury Court Estate.

"The church family continues to grow, participates in lots of lively activities throughout the week and enjoys an international flavour with 23 nations represented among the congregation."

Throughout 2009 there will be more events planned to celebrate the church's anniversary year including quiz nights, jazz evenings, children's parties and treasure hunts.

For more details visit or call the church office on 020 8904 8599.

People over 60 in Harrow and Brent can now use their Freedom Passes to enjoy free travel at any time of day on any buses, trams, Tubes and trains run by Transport for London.

The lifting of the previous restriction on travel during the weekday morning peak time came as part of a new five-year deal with London councils.

A 51-year-old man left his gold Volvo parked in Salmon Street, Wembley last Wednesday. When he returned the following morning at 11am he discovered the rear number plate had been stolen.

Angry commuters have blasted a rail company London Midland after a series of problems.

Since the start of the year London Midland trains from Euston to Northampton, which run through Harrow and Wealdstone and Wembley Central, have suffered delays, some leaving travellers stranded for hours.

Robert Williams, of East Lane, in North Wembley, uses the line to travel to Euston most weekdays.

He said: "Three or four times a week trains are curtailed at Wembley Central - the services just stop and don't run through.

"You never know whether you are going to make it in to work two hours late or 45 minutes late. There is no communication and there are never any staff to answer any questions.

"It was always difficult but recently the service has been practically non-existent. It's the new misery line."

The problem has led Anthony Wood, chairman of the Harrow Public Rail Users' Association, to request a meeting with a manager from the company to discuss the situation in April.

He said: "It is a very serious problem that needs addressing.

"People have complained to me about the late running of services and lack of announcements. It has been going on for a couple of months and they don't seem to have got their act together."

The line has been plagued with problems since January, when overhead power cables were damaged, causing widespread cancellations to services in and out of Euston.

London Midland is owned and run by the Go-Ahead group. A spokesman for London Midland said the company's new timetable could be to blame. He also blamed the weather and Network Rail, which is responsible for the track.

He said: "Network Rail has been doing a lot of engineering work on the lines, so we have had to work around that. Also the weather had a big impact and we have had staffing issues.

"The service has not been as good as it should be and it is something the management is working on."

Brent residents can recognise the good work of others in their community by nominating them for an award.

The annual Brent Community Champion Awards will thank people who make "exceptional contributions" to the community.

Councillor Ralph Fox said: "In the last year I have met many residents across the borough who have given their own time to help others. They have impressed me, not just for their commitment to their activities, but for their values in being so dedicated to their voluntary work. I look forward to receiving many nominations, and celebrating the awards at the ceremony."

Last year, Umesh Raichada, of Byron Road, Wembley, won an award for his work as school governor of Byron Court Primary School, which his daughters Karishma, 10, and Kareena, seven, attend.

Mr Raichada, who hopes to be re-elected as governor in the next two weeks, manages fundraising, helps at social events and is chairman of the Parent Teachers' Association.

Brent Council chief executive, Gareth Daniel, said of Mr Raichada at last year's ceremony: "He is precisely what we look for in our school leaders."

Outside of school work, Mr Raichada fundraises part-time for a charity for people with learning difficulties, Link Up, and is a freelance chartered marketer.

Winners in previous years have included a conservationist, a classical Indian musician, a sea cadet organiser, a retired postmaster and a park campaigner.

Last year, 59 people from youth club organisers to carers and good neighbours were nominated.

People who live outside of Brent can still be nominated if they do deserving work in the borough.

Nominations close on Monday March 2 for the ceremony in May and can be made online at www.brent.gov.uk/communityawards

When little known singer-songwriter, Gary Go, was growing up in the shadow of Wembley Stadium he spent many a day with his window open listening to the distant sounds of a concert.

Over the years it has become one of the places musicians dream of playing beneath the lit-up arches in front of thousands.

But this dream is about to become a reality for 24-year-old Gary, who has been given his big break by boy band Take That.

The bespectacled artist was delighted on Wednesday last week when it was announced he had been selected to open the band's 19-date tour this year.

He told the Observer: "The last couple of days have been really weird.

"It all feels so real now. I'm so excited that I get to play Wembley Stadium because that is where I grew up so it will be extra special."

When Gary, whose real name is Gary Baker, was just eight-years-old he remembers pounding out compositions on his toy Casio keyboard given to him by his cousin.

Soon he was listening to David Bowie, T-Rex and Beatles records and was figuring out how to record his own tracks at his home in Preston Road.

Living just a stone's throw away from the old stadium's Twin Towers, a pre-teen Gary was also hugely inspired by the live sounds of the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson.

He said: "I remember the Dangerous tour and ran out into the garden. I could hear Billy Jean being belted out over the crowds. I also remember Madonna.

"Wembley Stadium is the ultimate venue. Lengendary events have happened there.

"To play at Wembley will be a dream come true."

After leaving Buckingham College School in Harrow at 16, Gary clearly remembers his parents telling him to get a job.

He said: "I knew I didn't want to go to university and that I wanted to make music but my parents wanted me to get a job.

"They just said, Gary, go, and that was it.

"That moment has stayed with me and it is also where I got my name from, Gary Go."

Gary, who was also pupil at Mount Stuart Infant School in Kenton, started a bottom-rung job at a record company and recording studio in Willesden making tea and sorting mail.

He said: "I had no connections in music but I thought this might be a way in.

"I ended up learning a lot and knew that music was what I wanted to do."

Recruiting old school friends Gary then assembled a band and a selection of songs to produce the So So EP and released 500 copies under his home-run label The Canvas Room records.

He has worked for Eurythmic Dave Stewart's record label, Artist Network, but remembers flunking an interview at Peter GabrielÕs Real World recording studios in Bath.

Gary returned to London convinced he had blown his biggest chance. Little did he know his tracks had caught the ear of a US producer, who invited him to use his New Jersey recording studio and rent a room in a house where Frank Sinatra grew up.

He said: "There was no way I was going to turn this down. But I got quite lonely over there on my own.

"That is when I wrote Wonderful to try and pick me up.

"The rest of the album just followed."

So now after writing and recording around the world and having his own Canvas Room studio in Queen's Park, Gary is set to release his debut album and take the Take That tour by storm.

Asked where he thinks he will be in five years time the musician said: "I just want to continue playing music and having fun.

"Who knows, maybe I will be headlining my own tour in my home town one day."

Drivers are being warned to avoid East Lane, in Wembley, from Saturday because of urgent work to replace a major gas valve.

Roadworks will close East Lane to traffic at the junction with Blenheim Gardens for between 10 and 14 days. Signs show diversionary routes.

The work is being carried out by Morrisons on behalf of British Gas. The defective valve is being urgently replaced because the gas to many homes and businesses in Wembley could be cut if it failed.

There will be no disruption to gas supplies while it is under way.

For further details, contact 020 8937 5145 or email

The Tricycle Theatre is giving away free tickets to young people under 26.

The theatre in Kilburn has signed up to the scheme called A Night Less Ordinary, run by The Department of Culture, Media and Sports and the Arts Council. Other theatres around London will also be offering free tickets to shows.

To find out more go to www.anightlessordinary.org.uk